Real Madrid stumble again against Valencia

Madrid, Jan 4 (IANS) Real Madrid suffered another blow at the Mestalla Stadium, drawing 2-2 against Valencia and are now placed third in La Liga standings; four points behind Atletico Madrid and two less than Barcelona, which has a match pending against Sporting Gijon.

Valencia managed to draw, thanks to a Dani Parejo penalty after a foul by Pepe on Andre Gomez before Real Madrid pulled ahead with a great header by Bale.

Real Madrid were left one man down with the Croatian Mateo Kovacic’s expulsion but Valencia failed to take advantage until a minute after Bale’s goal when Paco Alcacer beat Real Madrid’s keeper Keylor Navas to level the score to 2-2.

Eibar added another win to an already magnificent season, and with their resounding 4-0 victory against Betis in Sevilla, moved a point behind Athletic Bilbao, in the seventh place, with the same points as Deportivo.

Capa and Keko Gontan opened the scoring for Eibar and Adrian Gonzalez and Borja Baston added to it to seal an impressive win against a disoriented Real Betis.

In the morning matches between the teams at the bottom of the table, Rayo Vallecano and Real Sociedad came to a 2-2 tie.

Rayo’s goals were scored by Diego Llorente and Jozabed Sanchez while Gorka Elustondo and Bruma equalised for Sociedad.

Rayo remain second last, two points behind Sociedad, Getafe, Las Palmas and Granada, while Sporting, who will meet Getafe on Monday, are placed third from the bottom, together with Rayo.